New Developer Tool Integrates Academic Citations Directly into Code, Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Scientific Software
Jul 18, 2025
Sci2Code Launches Public Beta – Research and Code Finally Meet
Broken Arrow, OK June 18, 2025 - The Self Research Institute is excited to announce the launch of Sci2Code, a groundbreaking developer tool that bridges the gap between academic research and software development. Available as a plugin for Visual Studio Code, Sci2Code allows developers to link individual code functions directly to the scientific literature that informs their design decisions.
“This is the future of scientific software development,” said R. Sterling Snead, CEO of SRI. “Sci2Code empowers developers to work with greater transparency, traceability, and collaboration. Think of it as Git—but for research integrity.”
Why It Matters
From healthtech to public policy, many projects claim to be “research-based”—but Sci2Code makes that claim auditable. By integrating with Zotero, the popular open-source reference manager, Sci2Code allows developers to cite entire papers—or specific excerpts—within code functions, syncing those references back to their Zotero libraries. This creates a clear, auditable link between code and evidence.
Already in Use
Sci2Code is already supporting development across key SRI initiatives:
Self Health Wallet – Connects backend logic to clinical studies
Self Pass – Links disease tracking and vaccination workflows to infectious disease research
Self Data Atlas – Maps personal informatics data of an entire human being
Beta Features Include
Language support for Python (.py), Julia (.jl), R (.r), Javascript(.js), Typescript(.ts), JavascriptReact(.jsx) and TypescriptReact(.tsx),
Auto-generation of JSDoc comments with article metadata
Code filtering based on linked references
Version control support for team collaboration
Static code analysis to identify undocumented segments
Zotero sync with function names and IDs
Join the Beta
Sci2Code is now available in public beta.
➡️ Visit www.selfresearch.org/sci2code to install, explore documentation, and join the community.
About The Self Research Institute:
The Self Research Institute is a US 501c3 non-profit pioneer in human data, privacy, and security. By leveraging scientific research, blockchain, and decentralized systems, SRI develops innovative software solutions that ensure privacy and security across multiple industries. The Institute is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses with future-proof digital tools that provide enhanced security and data management. For more information, please visit https://www.selfresearch.org/
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